Due to lack of parts from Japan .Didn't we as tax payers buy into GM .Don't get me wrong I feel for the Japanese people right now but thats not the point.
Good point! Doesn't look like Japan will be back up and running for a long time. It might be time to start making parts here again but as we all know its the bottom line as to what things cost to make with company's today. With the United Auto Workers Unions and their demands of the past no wonder more and more parts were outsourced. They are all doing it. Go to the cheapest bidder around the world. Bad deal for our own country. Supposely keeps car prices down and yet they are very expensive. I wonder what cars would cost if everything that went into a car was made here.
Here's a good one for you. Bought 4 Uniroyal Laredo tires for my 2000 Ford E-150 Van as it finally needed tires. It had Michelin tires from the factory on it. This Van I purchased used in 2006 for my small business. It only had 24k miles on it when I got it. Right now it has almost 50k so I think with all the hauling it does the Michelin tires held out great. Problem is those same Michelin Tires are very expensive. I didn't want to spend the kind of money they were asking for the Michelins today on a 11 year old Work Van so I decided to pick up the Uniroyals. I buy them like the garages buy them and saved a good $50 on each tire verses the Michelin price. Did a little research before I purchased them to see what the rating was on the tires and they were rated well. Also saw that the Michelin Company now owns Uniroyal. I said to myself then how can I go wrong? Well I put the tires on my Van about a month ago. The tires came with white Laredo Lettering on one side of the tire so I needed to reverse them to get the blackwall to show like I previously had on the Van. When I went to mount them on my tire machine I just happened to see MADE IN CHINA right where the bead seats against the rim on the blackwall side of the tire. Boy was I surprised. The tires seem to ride well but who knows how long they will last. I guess I will find out sooner or later. Have to wonder if the Michelin tires are now being made in China also.
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1967 Marlboro Maroon 4spd Coupe 1973 Dark Blue 4spd Coupe w/air, original 25,000 miles 1999 Black C-5 Hatchback Coupe 6spd LS1 1934 Ford 3 Window Coupe eng. code "ZZZ" 350-345hp Chevy Powered! 1970 Black on Black Monte Carlo(FOR SALE)Asking $18k
I also bought tires recently for my ford 250 plow/towing truck .I ended up with Dunlap's made in USA for the same price as Korean made tires.Michelin is a French owned and a lot of them are made USA .I think there is a slight movement to buy American again .
The Uniroyal labels on all 4 Tires did not list where the tires were manufactured nor was it listed on the Uniroyal website where I did some research on the tire. As I said it was basically hidden on the black wall side of the tire right were the bead seats into the rim and no where else that I was able to see. I probably wouldn't of purchased them knowing they were made in China until I saw what else was available out there. I just hope now that they are on my Van they hold up to the elements. There are so many foreign made tires out there anymore it is unbelievable. Probably more Foreign made then American made anymore.
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1967 Marlboro Maroon 4spd Coupe 1973 Dark Blue 4spd Coupe w/air, original 25,000 miles 1999 Black C-5 Hatchback Coupe 6spd LS1 1934 Ford 3 Window Coupe eng. code "ZZZ" 350-345hp Chevy Powered! 1970 Black on Black Monte Carlo(FOR SALE)Asking $18k
